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All Italy Mantua

The Atlas Obscura Guide To Mantua

15 Cool, Hidden, and Unusual Things to Do in Mantua, Italy

Updated November 1, 2023

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Unusual Attractions in Mantua

The eternal lovers of Valdaro.

Mantua, Italy

Lovers of Valdaro

A young Italian couple has been locked in an embrace for over 6,000 years.
Two walls and part of the ceiling

Mantua, Italy

Sala dei Giganti (Chamber of the Giants)

A room filled with frescos that make it seem like the walls are crumbling down while giants die in despair.
Inside the basilica

Mantua, Italy

Basilica di Sant'Andrea

It took more than 300 years to build this church, which is home to two sacred vessels believed to hold the blood of Christ.

Mantua, Italy

Isola dei Fiori di Loto (Lotus Island)

In Lago Superiore, the largest expanse of lotus flowers outside of Asia is hard to miss.
Rotonda di San Lorenzo

Mantua, Italy

Rotonda di San Lorenzo

The oldest church in Mantua was buried for centuries under the facades of other structures.
The hare

Mantua, Italy

Sant'Andrea's Hare

A hidden bas-relief of a hare on a church main portal that brings good luck to the ones who find it.

Mantua, Italy

Villa La Favorita

The remains of the last Gonzaga villa, a luxurious palace built in spite of an economic crisis.
Mantua Cathedral (Cattedrale di San Pietro)

Mantua, Italy

Mantua Cathedral (Cattedrale di San Pietro)

The seat of the Mantua bishop holds many secrets within its walls.
See All 15 Things To Do in Mantua
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Savor local cuisine across Rome, Florence & Venice.

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Explore Mantua, Italy

Architecture 6
History & Culture 5
Churches 4
Architectural Oddities 3
Towers 2
Art 2
Sacred Spaces 2

Mantua Leaderboard

Places Added

  1. Lakehurst
    12
  2. Max Cortesi
    2
  3. StepYoshi
    1
Join the Ranks!
Add an unusual place to Mantua.

Places Edited

  1. Lakehurst
    9
  2. linkogecko
    5
  3. Max Cortesi
    4
  4. Vaquero
    1
  5. jdcifello
    1

Places Visited

  1. Boskizzi
    15
  2. Klondike
    13
  3. Lakehurst
    12
  4. uomomoderno222
    11
  5. Chiavoli
    10

Recent Mantua Activity

  • sandralcoburn

    wants to go to Lovers of Valdaro

    17 days ago
  • Todeschini

    has been to Mantua Cathedral (Cattedrale di San Pietro)

    17 days ago
  • lyc20030820lyc

    wants to go to Rotonda di San Lorenzo

    16 days ago
  • daphnevanlierop

    wants to go to Lovers of Valdaro

    10 days ago
  • daphnevanlierop

    wants to go to Basilica di Sant'Andrea

    9 days ago

Stories About Mantua

Podcast: Italy’s Bomb Squad

Volunteers have been finding, excavating, removing, and sometimes even defusing bombs.
by The Podcast Team
September 18, 2023

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